(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

Am back in the USSR... er, no, the UK, after what was in some respects a nightmarish journey (please don't mention luggage and weight limits), though it would have been a deal worse without the support of my friends Sehenna and Gaston, which was definitely above and beyond the call of duty.

Am currently engaged in boggling at editor's demands for alterations to my translation (they might have said they wanted US spellings in the first place, and I maintain that there are times when 'become' is a better choice than 'turned into'). Most painful is his wish to substitute Herodotus's, Jesus's for Herodotus', Jesus'. Is this a US thing? It just looks illiterate to me...

Comments

[itinerantsphinx.livejournal.com]

Ah, that explains it! They probably have their own ideas about style anyway then... Good luck!

Incidentally, if you don't mind me asking - what sort of queries do you get from editors? And how do you feel about them / how they are phrased? What format do you prefer to receive queries in? I'm just asking as someone who's currently contacting authors etc as an editor, but freelance and without experience of what authors expect or like. It seems to me a fine balance between being courteous and respectful, but still getting my way... Of course, you may have different views on this!

Thank you!

[tree_and_leaf]

I've not got much experience of this - it's my first proper job in that field - , so I'm probably the wrong person to ask, but I'd say that while 'polite but firm' is probably best, the main thing is to be clear. Do not, for instance, send back the text with a few changes made - unsystematically - via track changes and then a vague comment along the lines of 'the system should be clear now', followed by not responding to emails requesting clarification! (Of course, I expect you've thought of this yourself).

(The only requests for alteration I've had so far have been formal, i.e. switching from UK to US spelling and regarding punctation).

[itinerantsphinx.livejournal.com]

Fair enough - I just thought it worth asking anyway though... Yes, I'm trying to be quite direct and clear, and providing all with a table with original text and suggestions of changes to it.

I suppose just feel a bit inferior writing to people with all their knowledge of everything and saying 'but I think you should say this instead'. I am making a lot of changes, but it's mainly due to most being non-native English writers.

Incidentally (again), I don't suppose you know the correct form of address to an Archmandrite do you? From the pictures on his university's website, he has a big beard and black robes and looks terribly thoughtful and learned - so I'm a bit scared to get it wrong. The only suggestion I've had so far is "Dear learned very holy man...".